Major fire near Paris airport destroys travelers’ cars

©Phil Mosley via Unsplash

A major fire at a parking lot in Louvres, France, near Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, caused significant disruption on Tuesday afternoon. Dozens of cars caught fire at a parking lot where travelers leave their vehicles before departing from the nearby airport.

The fire broke out shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday on Avenue de la Gare, near the Louvres train station, in the Val-d’Oise department. The parking lot is located about ten kilometers from the runways at Charles de Gaulle. According to French media, approximately eighty firefighters and 38 emergency vehicles arrived on the scene to battle the flames.

Huge plume of smoke and significant disruption

Footage on social media shows dozens of burning vehicles and a massive plume of black smoke. According to French media, the plume was visible as far as parts of Paris, about 35 kilometers from the fire. Authorities urged residents and road users to avoid the area and keep access roads clear for emergency services. 

The fire also affected the airport. As a precaution, two runways were temporarily closed due to the smoke. Air traffic was not completely halted, but the airport did warn of possible disruptions. The exact impact on individual flights was not yet clear on Tuesday afternoon. Public transportation in the region was also disrupted. A rail station on the RER D line was temporarily closed, and several bus routes were rerouted. According to French reports, the train connection to Louvres remained partially operational. In surrounding municipalities, residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed and to turn off ventilation systems if possible. That advice was issued due to the thick smoke spreading across the area. According to the fire department, the response was still in full swing on Tuesday afternoon.

No information has yet been released regarding the cause of the fire. Nor were the French authorities immediately able to say exactly how many vehicles were damaged or completely destroyed. The site is reportedly used as a secure parking lot for travelers flying out of Charles de Gaulle.

©Phil Mosley via Unsplash - illustrative image